Holding device for screens and the like



Patented Apr. 17, 3934 UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE Charles Josef Nickler, Hawthorne, N. J.

Application March 8, 1932, Serial No. 597,592

6 Clams.

This invention is a device for removably retaining window Screens and the like, in place within a window frame.

One of the objects of the invention is to provde a device of simple construction, Which may be readily inserted into or removed from place between the frame of a screen or the like and a projecting portion of a window frame, so as to firmly retain the screen in place, as well as to prevent rattling thereof. A further object is to provide a retaining device of the character described, constructed of a single piece of flat spring metal Shaped to fit into the space between the sash guides of a window frame, so as to resiliently press against the frame of a screen or the like while occupying a position within said sash guides. A further object is to provide a resilient device of the character mentioned which may be anchored to the frame of the screen to be held in place.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

ln the accompanying drawingz- Figure 1 diagrammatically illustrates a horizontal transverse section of a portion of a typical Window frame and screen, With a screen holding device in operative position. Figures 2, 3 and 4 are similar views illustrating slight modifications. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the form of device illustrated in Figure l, it being understood the devices illustrated in the other figures are of the same general type.

Referring to the drawing, A diagrammatically designates a conventional Window frame provided with a sash guide B, formed by the vertical shoulder C and the guide strip D, all of which are of standard construction.

En Figure 1, the screen S is conventionally illustrated as a common type Wooden frame formed dill of stiles lll, cross pieces 11, and screen wire 12, but one stile and one cross piece being shown. The holding device H consists of a single piece of iiat spring metal, the body of which is bent at to provide a loop-like resilient abutment, the extremity of the body contiguous to said abutment being slightly bent to provide a finger piece 16. The other extremity of the device is curved as indicated at 17, to provide another resilient abutment.

In practice, the Window sash having been raised to the desired extent, the screen S is placed in the guides B, pushed back against the strip D, and the Window sash (not shown) brought down on top of it. To place the holder H in position the operator with a finger of either hand engaging the bend 15, forces said holder between the shoulder C and the screen frame, to the position shown in Figure 1. With the parts in the position shown, it Will be observed that the abutments 15 and 17 are so proportioned and relatively positioned that their respective curved contours will engage the vertical faces of the screen and window guide respectively with the angular end 16 so disposed with respect to the body portion as to project laterally from the plane of the vertical face of the window guide into the adjacent open space with its extremity free. In other words, said abutments and the body of the device cooperate to provide a resilient wedge-like device interposed between the screen S and the shoulder C, with the finger piece 16 projecting beyond the plane of said shoulder C. By this means, the screen Will be firmly and securely retained in place and obviously will not vibrate or rattle While the holder is in position. When it is desired to remove the screen, it is held by one hand while the holder H is being withdrawn by the operator, who grasps the finger piece 16 and pries the holder out of engagement with the frame and screen, whereupon the screen may be easily removed.

In Figure 2 is illustrated a slight modification which is designed for use in holding a screen S' constructed with a metal frame 20. In this form, the holder H' comprises a single piece of flat metal having the loop-like bend 15fproviding a yieldable abutment member, the extremity 17- being curved slightly to the left as indicated in said figure, so as to provide a portion capable of engaging a groove or recess in the screen frame 20. The other extremity of the device is provided with the finger piece 162L as shown.

The form illustrated in Figure 3 is very similar to that illustrated in Figure 1 but designed to cooperate with a different type of screen frame S2, i. e. one provided with beads 21 on the front faces of the stiles. As shown, the holder H2 comprises a single piece of flat spring metal, the body of which is bent at 15b to provide a resilient abutment and the extended finger piece 161). The other extremity, instead of being curved as in Figure 1 is extended at an angle with respect to the body of the device as indicated at l'lb, and is provided with a groove or depression 22 complemental to the projection on the bead 21. The devices illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 are both insertable and removable in the same manner as described in connection with Figure 1.

In Figure 4 is illustrated another modification, which consists primarily in providing means by which the holder may be attached to the screen frame. Referring to said gure, the holder H3 is provided With the curved spring abutment portion 15c and the finger piece 16c as in the other forms illustrated in the drawing. The other end of the body portion is curved as indicated at 17c to fit into a groove formed in the stile of the screen, and from the said curved portion the metal is extended to form the abutment portion 17c Which is extended to provide a clip-like loop 24, constructed to embrace a vertical edge of the screen. The loop 24 is provided With an integral resilient end 25, shaped to fit in a longitudinal depression in the stile of the screen. In this form of the invention, the holding device is attached to the screen by clipping the looped portion 24 around the screen. If desired the bend 170 may be engaged by an anchoring pin 23 in the bottom cross piece of the screen, but the pin is not necessary and may be omitted Without departing from the spirit of the invention. When the screen is plaeed in position in engagement With the sash guide of the window frame, the loop 15c is forced into the guide aganst the abutment shoulder C thereby forcing the screen backwardly against the bead D so as to maintain the screen in the desired position.

The advantages of the invention Will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art,\to Which it belongs. In this connection it Will be particularly observed that a very simple form of holder is provided by constructing the same of a single piece of flat spring metal bent to the contours described, so that it may firmly fit between the screen and the abutment shoulder of the Windowsash guide, thereby retaining the screen yieldably in place. It Will also be readily understood that because of the resiliency of the device, it not only retains the screen in place, but maintains a sufficient yieldable pressure thereon to prevent it fron rattling While in position in the Window frame.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described an operative manner of constructing and using the same, although Without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the forms of its use, What is claimed is:-

l. A screen retaining device comprising a single piece of resilient metal formed With a straight body portion provided at one end With a curved abutment portion and at the other end With a reversely curved loop-like abutment portion terminating in an angularly disposed end, said body portion being of a length approximately equal to the distance between one vertical face of a window guide and an oppositely disposed vertical face of a screen frame, said abutment portions being so constructed and relatively arranged that their respective curved contours will engage the said vertical faces of the screen and the window guide, said angular end being so disposed with respect to said body portion as to project laterally from the plane of the vertical face of the window guide into the adjacent atmospheric space With its extremity free.

2. A screen retaining device comprising a single piece of resilient metal formed With a straight body portion provided at one end with a curved abutment portion and at the other end with a reversely curved loop-like abutment portion terminating in an angularly disposed end, said first mentioned abutment portion having an extension provided With a transverse recess therein constructed and arranged to receive a projecting rib on a screen frame, said body portion being message of a length approximately equal to the distance between one vertical face of a Window guide and an oppositely disposed vertical face of a screen frame, said abutment portions being so constructed and relatively arranged that their respective curved. contours Will engage the said vertical faces of the screen'nd the Window guide, said angular end being so disposed With respect to said body portion as to project laterally from the plane of the vertical face of the Window guide into the adjacent atmospheric space With its extremity free.

3. A screenretaining device comprising a single piece of resilient metal formed With a straight body portion provided at one end With a curved abutment portion and at the other end With a reversely curved loop-like abutment portion terminating in an angularly disposed end, said first mentioned abutment portion having an integral clip-like extension constructed and arranged to fit around and engage the edge of a screen frame, said body portion being of a length approximately equal to the distance between one vertical face of a Window guide and an oppositely disposed vertical face of a screen frame, said abutment portions being so constructed and relatively arranged that their respective curved contours Will engage the said vertical faces of the screen and the Window guide, said angular end being so disposed With respect to said body portion as to project laterally from the plane of the vertical face of the Window guide into the adjacent atmospherie space With its extremity free.

4. A screen retaining device comprising a single piece of resilient metal formed With a straight body portion provided at one end With a curved abutment portion and at the other end With a reversely curved loop-like abutment portion terminating in an angularly disposed end, said first mentioned abutment portion having an integral clip-like extension, the extremity of Which is of curved hook-like form, said clip portion being constructed and arranged to fit around the edge of a screen frame With said extremity resiliently engaging said frame, said body portion being of a length approximately equal to the distance betWeen one vertical face of a Window guide and an oppositely disposed vertical face of a screen frame, said abutment portions being so constructed and relatively arranged that their respective curved contours Will engage the said vertical faces of the screen and the window guide, said angular end being so disposed With respect to said body portion as to project laterally from the plane of the vertical face of the Window guide into the adjacent atmospheric space With its extremity free.

5. A screen retaining device comprising a single piece of resilient metal formed with a straight body portion provided at one end With a curved abutment portion and at the other end With a reversely curved loop-like abutment portion terminating in an angularly disposed end, the first mentioned abutment portion having an integral oppositely bent clip-like extension constructed and arranged to fit around and grasp an adjacent edge of a screen frame, said body portion being of a length approximately equal to the distance between one vertical face of a Window guide and an oppositely disposed vertical face of a screen frame, said abutment portions being so constructed and relatively arranged that their respective curved contours Will engage the said vertical faces of the screen and the Larsmo-is window guide, said angular end being so disposed with respect to said body portion as to project laterally from the plane of the vertical face of the window guide into the adjacent 'atmospheric space with its extremity free.

6. The combination with a screen having an anchor pin therein, of a retaining device compris. Ag a single piece of resilient metal formed with a straight body portion provided at one end with a curved abutment portion and at the other end with a reversely curved loop-like abut-v ment portion terminating in an angularly disposed end, said first mentioned abutment portion engaging said anchor pin and having an integral loop-like extension constructed and arranged to removably grip the adjacent edge of the screen frame, said body portion being of a length approximately equal to the distance between one vertical face -of a window 'guide and an oppositely disposed vertical face of at screen frame, said abutment portions being so constructed and relativelyl arranged that'their respective curved contours will engage the said vertical faces of the screen and the window guide, said angular end :being so dis osed with respect to said body portion as to pr ject laterally from the plane of the vertical face of the window guide into the adjacent atmospheric space with its extremity free.

CHARLES JOSEF NICKLER. 

